For the past few days since last weekend, Frank Ocean’s headlining performance at Coachella 2023’s first weekend has remained on people’s minds. His set was a bit of a disaster, and later, reports surfaced that Ocean’s plan for the show had to be changed last-minute because he sustained an injury days before the performance. Then, it was confirmed yesterday (April 19) that Ocean is no longer scheduled to headline the upcoming second weekend of Coachella.
That news was confirmed via an official statement, and in that statement, Ocean reflected on his ill-fated first-weekend performance. In the statement, provided by an Ocean representative to Uproxx yesterday, Ocean said:
“It was chaotic. There is some beauty in chaos. It isn’t what I intended to show but I did enjoy being out there and I’ll see you soon.”
The statement also included a message not directly attributed to Ocean. It offers some context about the situation, reading, “After suffering an injury to his leg on festival grounds in the week leading up to weekend 1, Frank Ocean was unable to perform the intended show but was still intent on performing, and in 72 hours, the show was reworked out of necessity. On doctor’s advice, Frank is not able to perform weekend 2 due to two fractures and a sprain in his left leg.”
Ocean will not return to headline on Sunday, April 23, for Coachella’s second weekend because he suffered “two fractures and a sprain in his left leg” in a bicycle accident days before last weekend’s set, as reported by Varietyon Wednesday, April 19.
But Weekend 2 will go on, with Blink-182 in Ocean’s headlining spot. Bad Bunny and Blackpink will repeat their respective headlining sets. And at-home fans will be able to livestream again.
As noted by Rolling Stone, “YouTube has set up six different livestream channels for the two weekends, which will all stream different artists at the same time, just like you’re really there at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.”
The YouTube description of the official teaser for Coachella’s inaugural livestream promises “an unmissable digital Coachella experience including live chat, in-stream shopping, and exclusive Shorts content from your favorite artists and creators.”
You can also set reminders for the separate livestreams dedicated to the Coachella Stage, Outdoor Theatre, Sahara, Mojave, Gobi, and Yuma.
Frank Ocean closed out the first weekend of Coachella 2023 as the headliner last Sunday night, April 16, and it proved to be a thankless job. Fans were mostly left disappointed because Ocean’s set started an hour later than scheduled and was lackluster once it was underway.
“The accident occurred when Frank was at Coachella rehearsing his set. He wasn’t onstage, though, we’re told the mishap involved bikes used to roam around the Empire Polo Club grounds, and it was serious enough for doctors to advise Frank’s production be changed,” TMZ wrote.
The most significant alteration was scrapping an ice rink that had been specifically built for Ocean’s set for a “skating routine” involving “over 100 hockey players” cast from Los Angeles-based hockey teams last month. Instead, as Uproxx observed, Ocean’s set “felt aimless and unplanned,” with bouts where songs were just playing over the speakers without any performance element from Ocean.
Ocean’s lack of animation can officially be chalked up to his inability to move. Varietyreported on Wednesday, April 19, that Ocean “will not be performing” as Coachella’s headliner for the upcoming second weekend. The publication additionally relayed that Ocean’s headlining slot will be taken by Blink-182 this Sunday, April 23.
Representatives for Ocean provided a statement:
“After suffering an injury to his leg on festival grounds in the week leading up to weekend 1, Frank Ocean was unable to perform the intended show but was still intent on performing, and in 72 hours, the show was reworked out of necessity. On doctor’s advice, Frank is not able to perform weekend 2 due to two fractures and a sprain in his left leg.”
Ocean’s statement reads, “It was chaotic. There is some beauty in chaos. It isn’t what I intended to show, but I did enjoy being out there, and I’ll see you soon.”
Frank Ocean’s second headlining set for Coachella 2023 has been canceled. According to TMZ, the ankle injury that caused him to change his weekend one set at the last minute turned out to be worse than previously thought. On his doctor’s advice, he informed Coachella that he would not be able to perform this upcoming weekend.
In a statement, Frank’s reps told TMZ:
After suffering an injury to his leg on festival grounds in the week leading up to weekend 1. Frank Ocean was unable to perform the intended show but was still intent on performing, and in 72 hours, the show was reworked out of necessity. On doctor’s advice, Frank is not able to perform weekend 2 due to two fractures and a sprain in his left leg.
Ocean’s first Sunday evening set was heavily criticized by fans after the live stream was abruptly canceled at the last minute. Then, the show started an hour late, with a stripped-down set that many fans complained seemed disorganized and hard to see, with the stage mostly converted to a massive screen and Frank only performing live for a fraction of his stage time before ending his set about 20 minutes after Coachella’s curfew.
A more complete story emerged over the following days. Frank had apparently injured his ankle in a biking accident a few days before the set prompting the need to change the stage — an ice-skating rink, which was to be populated by local hockey players for some skate-bound choreography — at the last minute.
As of press time, Coachella has yet to make a statement about a replacement act, but according to Variety, Blink-182 will take over as headliners on Sunday. Stay tuned for further updates.
Frank Ocean’s highly-anticipated return to Coachella over the weekend didn’t quite pan out as most fans had imagined. To be fair, Justin Bieber thought he did a great job. However, shortly after the event ended, rumors began circulating on social media about what caused the disconnect. Well, now a hockey podcast, Empty Netters, is spilling the tea about what it was like behind the scenes at Coachella on the day of the singer’s headlining performance.
Hosted by former hockey players Dan and Chris Powers, the duo held nothing back regarding the chaotic set. Both gentlemen were slated to appear on stage with the “Pyramids” singer after being referred to Ocean’s creative team by former New Jersey Devils’ player-turned-Hollywood scout Chris Nelson.
Dan shared that for nearly a month, Chris, himself, and several dozens of skaters had rehearsed for the performance. “We’ve been hanging with Frank. We’ve been hanging with the other skaters. Hanging with these hanging figure skaters. Going through this whole process, it’s this huge ordeal.”
The commentator also revealed that rehearsals continued until the Tuesday before Coachella. But as it relates to the day of, Dan confessed that after the set pickup and call time for wardrobe and makeup was pushed back multiple times; he knew that “The wheels started to fall off.”
“We get to this hotel, and we’re told to be there by 12 noon. Then get a text that the runner’s not going to come until 1 pm,” said Dan.
Chris chimed in to say, “Then it was 2:15 pm. Then 3 pm.”
However, by the time they arrived at the designated area for wardrobe, “It was a nightmare.”
“At this hotel, we run into the figure skaters. The Olympic figure skaters, mind you, and they have disgruntled looks on their faces. And they mention to us that they’ve been cut from the show,” said Dan.
“We start to hear rumblings allegedly that Frank has been in an accident that has given him an ankle injury. So, people are saying, F’rank’s not in a good head space,’ and they. ‘don’t know what’s going on.’ And we’re sitting there, and it is becoming clear that things are not going well with this show.”
Eventually, the hosts are told the ice surface part of the set was scraped. They were asked to get in costume and walk around the stage, to which they responded, “F*ck no. No, thank you. I’m out of here.”
Chris interjects to say, “To be fair,r we both know how show business works in a lot of ways. Production is a mess in everything, all the time, but I will say it was a worthy experience if it had gone off correctly. But, I would say there were a lot of sunk time for the participants.”
He continued, “He really cares about the production. He had a very clear vision, and even though that vision changed a lot, he was always on us. Helping us. Making sure everyone hit what he was pitching in his mind.”
To which Dan pushed back to add, “It’s not like this fell apart, and he was, ‘Oh no.’ He was actively like, ‘I don’t want to f*cking do this anymore.’ Those figure skaters got cut not because there was an ice issue. Not because something went wrong. There was no malfunction. He was straight up like, ‘F*ck this. I’m not doing this anymore.’”
Frank Ocean has unintentionally had the internet in a chokehold over the past week. Rumors swirled about Ocean releasing a new album along with his headlining performance at Coachella 2023. Now that the dust has settled, most of Ocean’s fanbase has been left disappointed by the result. The overarching sentiment seems to be that the singer doesn’t care about his fans. A user on Twitter stated, “Started the set late, didn’t let them live stream it, now ending the set early … Frank Ocean you will rue the day.”
Headlining Coachella on Sunday night, fans were bemused to find out that the Coachella livestream wouldn’t include Ocean’s performance. We don’t yet have a concrete reason why it wasn’t shared. Was it per the request of Ocean? Did Coachella not want their main act to be shown off to the world? A day after the event, the music fanbase is still baffled by the hour-long performance.
Frank Ocean’s Coachella Performance Was A Mixed Bag
Frank Ocean’s Coachella performance was a mixed bag at best. After months of preparation by the performance event staff, he asked them to “destroy” the laid-out stage moments before he went on. This contributed to Ocean showing up to the performance one hour late. Considering the hundreds of dollars fans spent to see him, it wasn’t the greatest look. At the show’s end, Ocean claimed to his fanbase that he was being forced off stage due to “curfew.” However, the plan was always for the show to end at midnight.
Ocean performed reworked versions of songs such as “Novacane,” “White Ferrari,” and “Bad Religion.” Of course, he also performed some of his hallmark tracks off of Blonde and Endless. “Nights” saw him jumping around the stage, while “At Your Best (You Are Love)” reminded fans of his innate talent as an emotive vocalist. This was especially notable on “Godspeed.” In addition, he implemented an impromptu DJ set in the middle of his performance. It was the disorganization of the show rather than Frank Ocean’s performance which hurt the Coachella 2023 headliner.
Frank Ocean Hinted At A New Album
MANCHESTER, TN – JUNE 14: Frank Ocean performs at The Other Tent during day 3 of the 2014 Bonnaroo Arts And Music Festival on June 14, 2014 in Manchester, Tennessee. (Photo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic for Bonnaroo Arts And Music Festival)
There was hope from fans that he would use the platform to announce a new album. While this wasn’t the case, Frank Ocean did confirm that new music is on the way at Coachella. He stated, “I want to talk about why we’re here because it’s not because of a new album – not that there’s not a new album.” About the new project, he later stated, “But it’s not right now.” It wasn’t the grandiose release of new music that fans hoped for. However, Ocean gave fans just enough to chew on for the near future.
Amid mixed reviews of his Coachella performance and a continuing hiatus from music, the complicated dynamic between Frank Ocean’s fanbase and himself has continued. The tension began all the way back in 2016. Fans were disappointed at Ocean for not releasing Boys Don’t Cry (which later morphed into Endless) sooner. However, Ocean’s reasons for postponing the record were later revealed. He infamously used the project to get out of his deal with Def Jam Recordings.
Ryan Breaux Inspired His Performance
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 26: Singer Frank Ocean performs at Terminal 5 on July 26, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
During Coachella 2023, Frank Ocean revealed to his fanbase that his reasonings for headlining the show were deeply personal. His late younger brother, Ryan Breaux, would force Frank Ocean to go to Coachella with him when they were younger. He stated, “My brother and I came to this festival a lot. I know he would’ve been excited to be here with all of us.” Unfortunately, his younger brother’s tragic passing is another reason for the discourse between himself and his fans. After the news of the accident came out, droves of fans claimed that the emotional experience from his brother’s passing would translate to better music. Along with the pandemic, Breaux’s death reportedly postponed any plans Ocean had for new music.
In an interview with GQ in 2019, Ocean referenced the constant microscope that his fanbase has on him. He stated “As a writer, as a creator, I’m giving you my experiences. But just take what I give you. You ain’t got to pry beyond that. I’m giving you what I feel like you can feel.” As social media has become a huge part of our society, Ocean has unsubscribed from the notion that fans constantly need to be in the know-how.
Ocean Is Purposefully Disconnected
Lastly, Frank Ocean spearheaded the release of the Homer fashion brand last year. Largely releasing luxurious products, he infamously released a $27,000 penis ring in August of 2022. While there’s nothing wrong with getting into the fashion fields, it seemed like a slap in the face to his fans. About this, iconic music reviewer Anthony Fantano stated, “Frank Ocean did an amazing job at gaming the system. Now that he’s established, he’s pitching us the same garbage snake oil that anybody else in a position of capitalistic influence would.”
There’s also the moral question of, does Frank Ocean owe his fanbase anything. With some fans reacting unemotionally to his brother’s passing, this may have further solidified his lack of interest in engaging. However, it seems Ocean’s naturally shy personality doesn’t blend well with the microscopic nature of the internet era. The Louisiana-born creative will continue to do what we wants, whether fans like it or not. Frank Ocean made that very clear with his performance during the first week at Coachella.
The first weekend of Coachella 2023 may be over, but there is still one more amazing weekend left. From Friday, April 21st to Sunday, April 23rd, festival-goers can still look forward to another exciting music, art, and culture weekend. The annual music and arts festival in Indio, California features a diverse lineup of artists across multiple genres.
Bad Bunny, Blackpink, and Frank Oceanheadlined this year’s festival. If you plan to attend weekend two of Coachella, packing the right gear will help guarantee a safe and comfortable experience. From sun protection to comfortable sleep arrangements, here are ten essentials you shouldn’t leave home without.
The hot and arid climate of the California desert means that festival-goers are exposed to intense sunlight, which can lead to painful sunburns and skin damage. That’s why it’s crucial to pack sunscreen with a high SPF rating and reapply it regularly throughout the day. In addition to sunscreen, attendees should also wear protective clothing such as hats, sunglasses, and long-sleeved shirts to shield themselves from the sun’s harmful rays.
After a long day of music, art, and partying at Coachella 2023, having a comfortable and private resting place is essential to recharge for the next day. Pack a warm sleeping bag and a comfortable pad to ensure a good night’s rest. While hotels and other accommodations are available in the area, camping is a popular option for festival-goers who want to be closer to the action and save money. Coachella has car and tent camping sites adjacent to the festival grounds.
In today’s digital age, phones have become an indispensable part of our lives, even more so when attending. From capturing memories to staying up to date with potential line-up changes, having a fully charged phone is crucial for a smooth and fun experience. That’s why it’s essential to pack a phone strap to prevent it from getting lost or stolen. Moreover, with so many photo-worthy moments, a portable charger can be a lifesaver, especially since there are limited charging stations on the festival grounds.
Staying hydrated is paramount when attending any festival this summer. It’s so important to drink plenty of water to avoid the risk of dehydration. While water is available for purchase at the festival grounds, having a water bottle carrier keeps your hands free for dancing, enjoying your favorite drinks, and much more. Additionally, bringing a reusable water bottle helps you save money and reduces the amount of plastic waste generated at the festival. Coachella has water bottle-filling stations on the festival grounds.
Hand hygiene is still a top priority in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s especially the case when attending a huge music festival like Coachella 2023. With thousands of people around you, picking up germs is easy, which can quickly ruin your experience. Packing hand sanitizer in your bag and using it frequently is essential. Clip-on hand sanitizers are a great option as they are easy to carry and can be attached to your bag, keychain, or clothing for quick access.
When attending the festival, it’s vital to have a secure and accessible form of payment, such as cash or a bank card. This year, Coachella went cashless — a trend that began during the pandemic. Bringing a bank card, or more preferably, a credit card, guarantees you can access your funds throughout the festival. Additionally, the festival requires attendees to present a government-issued ID to obtain a wristband to purchase drinks. Be sure to have your identification with you at all times. Also, security becomes more stringent each year, and having proper identification is essential to avoid any issues or delays when entering the festival grounds.
In addition to looking stylish, sunglasses are fundamental for protecting your eyes from the harsh desert sun and dust. The winds can pick up at night, creating a sandstorm effect that can be uncomfortable and irritating to the eyes. Clear or colored lenses can keep the dust out while also making a fabulous fashion statement at Coachella. Opt for sunglasses that won’t slip off during your dance moves. And remember to pack a few different looks to match your outfits.
3. The Perfect Bag
INDIO, CA – APRIL 16: A Louis Vuitton mini backpack at the Revovle Festival during day 3 of the 2017 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival Weekend 1 on April 16, 2017 in Indio, California. (Photo by Christian Vierig/GC Images)
It’s critical to consider the security of your belongings while at the festival. A crossbody purse or backpack with zipper closures and secure compartments can help prevent theft and keep your valuables safe. Durable materials, like leather or waterproof nylon, are perfect to protect your belongings from weather conditions. Per Coachella’s website, they only allowed medium-sized backpacks that are no bigger than 18″x13″x8.5″ when packed. This year, they’ll fit your backpack into a box to ensure that it’s of size, similar to how carry-on luggage is measured at airports.
2. Earplugs and an Eye Mask
INDIO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 16: Festivalgoers are seen during the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 16, 2023 in Indio, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Coachella)
Along with earplugs, an eye mask is a must-have for the festival. Getting a good night’s sleep can be difficult with all the excitement and activities. And with the sun rising early in the desert, you might wake up earlier than you’d like. An eye mask can block out light and create a better sleeping environment. It can also come in handy for mid-day naps or resting in between sets. Packing earplugs for when you want to tune out and sleep is great since the festival can be noisy and chaotic, even during nighttime.
And finally, don’t forget to pack your ticket for Coachella 2023. You could try sweet-talking your way into the festival with your charming personality, but your dazzling smile probably won’t sway the security guards. So, do yourself a favor and put that ticket at the very top of your packing list.
Just days after Latto performed at Coachella over the weekend, a photo that she posted of the crowd has made the rounds online — after many believed it was Photoshopped. While it’s unclear what the reason for this might have been, social media users pointed out that there were duplicates of the audience members.
People also chimed in with some jokes. “That’s me and my twin brother enjoying our time with friends,” one person replied, pointing at the fact it was the exact same person. “Literally cropped out the extended pixels and it still looks like a crowd to me. Just weird they decided to do that,” another wrote.
that’s me and my twin brother enjoying our time with friends
Literally cropped out the extended pixels and it still looks like a crowd to me. Just weird they decided to do that (maybe to fit the IG grid dk ) pic.twitter.com/R1DIGCI7AJ
Shortly after the viral picture spread, Latto has responded, saying she didn’t Photoshop it at all.
“Never photoshopped a crowd lmao I expanded it so it would fit in my Instagram swipe without getting cut off but it was clearly f*cked up so I didn’t end up using it & just posted the wrong version by accident on Twitter babes,” she shared to her Instagram story.
Check out Latto’s crowd pics above to decide for yourself. Below, find some more social media reactions.
All she did was just extend the photo by a tiny margin so it would be centered for her so ial media. Y’all are reaching, there’s nothing wrong with this, it actually makes me like her for caring about composition pic.twitter.com/cyt8kCVlhy
Weekend one of Coachella kicked off this weekend, with most of the prominent acts bringing along some surprise guests to join them on stage. Sometimes, there was even more than one at the same show.
Here are all the surprise guest performances from Coachella 2023… So far.
Friday started off with Muna bringing out Boygenius, where they performed the hit song, “Silk Chiffon,” together.
Kaytranada had Kali Uchis join to play “10%” and Aminé to perform the duo’s new song together. Later, on Sunday, Uchis would perform her own Coachella set, where she brought out Tyler The Creator for “See You Again,” Don Toliver for “Fantasy,” and Omar Apollo for “Worth The Wait.”
In typical fashion, Gorillaz brought quite a few surprises, including De La Soul, Del The Funky Homosapien, Thundercat, Slowthai, Peven Everett, Jamie Principle, and Bootie Brown.
Bad Bunny, who headlined Friday night, brought along Ñengo Flow, Jowell & Randy, Post Malone, and Jhayco as surprise guests performances during his set.
On Saturday, Rosalía brought out her fiancé, Rauw Alejandro, as they performed their “Beso” collaboration.
Frank Ocean wrapped up the first weekend of Coachella this past Sunday (April 16) with his first live performance in years. Most people seem to agree that his set did not go well. An injury and last-minute changes to the stage setup appear to have been at play, but regardless, the show was what it was. If you ask Justin Bieber, though, what it was was pretty terrific.
Bieber was apparently in attendance, as she shared a photo from the set on Instagram. He also praised Ocean’s performance in the caption, writing, “I was blown away by Frank Oceans Coachella performance. His artistry is simply unmatched, his style, his taste, his voice, his attention to detail.. I was deeply moved. It made me want to keep going and get better as an artist. He continues to set the bar high and gave me a night I will never forget! Thanks Frank.”
Before this, Bieber and Ocean had some shared history. Ocean (credited as Lonnie Breaux) co-wrote “Bigger” from Bieber’s 2009 debut EP, My World. Ocean and Tyler The Creator also apparently wrote a song for Bieber’s 2012 album Believe that ultimately didn’t make the cut, Tyler revealed in 2013. Bieber and Jaden Smith also covered Ocean’s “Thinking About You” in 2011.
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